For most high school students the decision to participate in athletics is a simple matter of fact -- they either want to play or they don't.
For McDonald County High School junior volleyball player Alex Gross there was much more to consider when making the decision on whether to play volleyball for the Lady Mustangs this year.
Gross has been battling a series of rare and somewhat mysterious physical ailments since she was in junior high school.
"I had made the decision not to play," Gross said. "I am taking cosmetology through the flex program and the schedules conflicted, but Crowder is working with me so I can play."
But the health problems Gross has endured since she was an eighth grader were also a consideration. The symptoms began as a reoccurring fever that would last 12 to 24 hours or so -- not long enough for her mom, Angie Kirk, to make a doctor's appointment before she would be feeling fine again.
"That lasted for about a year," Kirk said. "It probably happened about once a month. We had no idea what it was, but when all the the rest of this happened it kind of made sense."
The "rest" came to light when Gross was finally diagnosed with Lyme disease and mononucleosis in January 2013. Additionally she was also found to have gastro-enteritis and an upper respiratory infection. Kirk said any of the four diseases could have brought on amplified muscular pair disorder, which affects her nerves and muscles, causing them to "misfire."
"She started out having flu-like symptoms -- body aches and a fever," Kirk said. "We thought we were getting through that when she took two weeks off from school. She came back and started lifted weights and got something. We had no idea what it was. She felt awful."
Gross ended up quitting her travel volleyball team after her freshman season at McDonald County High School. She also was home-schooled for the second semester of the freshman year.
"I couldn't even walk from the bedroom to the bathroom," Gross said.
Gross came back to MCHS for her sophomore year, where she struggled through a second volleyball season in high school.
"Every day was a challenge," Gross said. "My joints would swell and I was stiff all the time. I constantly had to stretch. It was painful to move. Lifting weights really hurt."
After the volleyball season was over, Gross said she rested and took it easy for the rest of the year.
But in April 2015, Gross had a bad spell.
"Every day is like a guessing game on what she is going to do to trigger something bad," Kirk said. "She went to a trampoline park and was down for a week. She has been doing pretty good since then."
Gross is hoping that she will be able to go through her junior year without having any physical setbacks. She said that so far in preseason practice her health has been good.
"I am really happy to be back," Gross said. "It's tough emotionally thinking you are going to go back to being sick."
Kirk said that Diana Rowe, a nurse practitioner with Elk River Health Services, is her go-to person for treatment of symptoms. She said Rowe was the one who did the blood work and diagnosed her problems before referring her to specialists for treatment.
"As of right now it is just as symptoms arise and we are hoping it is all in the past," Kirk said.
Kacha Kuhn, McDonald County volleyball coach, said she has had the privilege to coach Gross since the second grade.
"She has a true love for the game and her teammates," Kuhn said. "Over the past three years she has battled this illness off and on. Even in her hardest times she had a heart of determination and perseverance. She is intense and passionate about all she does. We are all excited to have her on the court again this year. I love her and am very proud of what she has overcome."
Gross said her short-term goal is to start going through a full practice on Aug. 17. Her ultimate goal is to play volleyball at the college level.
"It is good to be back," Gross said. "Everyone has made me feel welcome. I want to be with the team at every game. Hopefully, I will be able to contribute."
Sports on 08/13/2015